Komodo Dragon

Komodo dragons, or Komodo monitors, are the largest, heaviest lizards in the world — and one of the few with a venomous bite. These stealthy, powerful hunters rely on their sense of smell to detect food, using their long, forked tongues to sample the air. They can spend hours waiting for a sizable meal to wander within range before launching a deadly attack with their large, curved and serrated teeth.

To read more on this story, click here: Komodo Dragon

27 “Facts” About Animals You Have All Wrong

Spoiler alert: you may never order grilled octopus again.

Myth: Felines and canines are colorblind

Although it was long believed that our furry companions had limited vision and only saw certain colors, it’s not the case. Cats and dogs have much better color eyesight than we thought. Both can see shades of blue and green. In fact, cats have way more light-sensing cells or rods in their eyes than humans do, and that’s why they can see better in low-light situations. Of course that doesn’t explain why they sometimes act that way they do.

To read more on this story, click here: 27 “Facts” About Animals You Have All Wrong

Armadillo Lizards Look Like Baby Dragons

Looking like a miniature version of the dragons in “Game of Thrones,” these armadillo lizards are quite the unique little design of nature. Similar to their name, they come with an outer layering that is armored like an armadillo. Just like the armadillo, whenever these lizards are under threat, they curl up into a ball to be protected by their built-in armor. These little armored lizards like to hang out in the crevices and nooks of rocks.

They are also natives of South Africa and have adapted many ways of shielding themselves from the area’s harsh climate and predators. As a result, they’ve become quite adept at hiding. These unique little animals are lovers of sunbathing like many other reptiles, but unlike most reptiles, armadillo lizards don’t lay eggs.

To read more on this story, click here: Armadillo Lizards Look Like Baby Dragons

Axolotls Make Interesting Pets

The axolotl is a type of aquatic salamander that looks somewhat like a cross between a fish and a lizard! While axolotl are definitely unusual and have a very distinctive appearance- being somewhat like a standard looking lizard, but with gills and an underwater habitat- they are actually relatively easy to keep as pets, with a little research and understanding of their nature and what is involved. Intrigued? Read on to find out more!

Why do axolotl make interesting pets?
As well as being very distinctive looking (most of your visitors will never have heard of axolotl at all, unless they happen to be reptile enthusiasts)! Axolotl have a range of other uniquely interesting characteristics that are appealing to many pet lovers. They have superior regenerative qualities, even in comparison to other lizards, such as those that can regenerate their tails and scales. Axolotl heal very easily if injured, and can re-grow limbs such as a leg if hurt or attacked by other animals. While they are not hugely energetic and active all of the time, they are not generally prone to hiding or lying still for long periods of time, and so are eminently watchable and fascinating to observe.

All about axolotl
Axolotls are neotenic, which means that they don’t generally undergo the distinct metamorphosis from larvae to adult that usually occurs with other types of salamanders. They become sexually mature (and so reach adulthood) and reproduce within the water, instead of maturing and moving onto land. To further add to the confusion, axolotl do sometimes metamorphose into terrestrial animals, although almost without exception this only happens in the wild, and very rarely. Axolotl are native to Mexico, where many different sub-species of the genus exist. The type of axolotl that is commonly available to buy as pets within the UK are of the Ambystoma Mexicana genus. Correctly cared for, they are hardy animals that can live for well over ten years under suitable conditions. Axolotl should not be handled if at all avoidable, as their skin and gills are very soft and malleable and can easily become damaged. Young axolotl can become cannibalistic to others, and so should not be housed together while young. Sometimes adult tank mates can also be aggressive, especially if the tank is overcrowded, so this should be carefully managed. Axolotl will eat other fish and organisms in the water, so they should not be kept with other aquatic pets! Axolotl can grow quite large when mature- around 25 cm is not uncommon, although even larger domestic axolotl are by no means unusual either!


What do I need to care for axolotl?
The basic kit required to care for axolotl is not too dissimilar to that required for fish, with a few minor changes. You will need a sturdy glass or acrylic tank of at least 45 litres capacity to keep a couple of axolotl happily, as well as a suitable secure lid for the tank as axolotl are no strangers to climbing.  You should keep the water temperature between 16 to 18 degrees celsius ( around 60 to 64 degrees fahrenheit), higher temperatures can lead to stress and possible death.  It is also important that your axolotl are not subjected to the glare of bright light. While a tank light can be incorporated within the lid so that you can watch what your axolotl are doing, ensure that it is not too bright or intense, and that it is turned off for sufficient periods of time during the hours of darkness. You will also need to provide a substrate for the base of the tank. It is usually advised that you should use sand as the substrate, or alternatively, don't use any substrate at all.  Ensure that you don’t use gravel or small stones, as axolotl may ingest these inadvertently which could get caught in their digestive tracts. Some hiding places such as ornaments and plants are also recommended. Finally, as with all aquatic creatures, water quality and filtration are incredibly important. A water filter should be incorporated into your axolotl’s tank, and the tank should be cleaned out regularly with partial water changes performed as needed. If you use tap water in the tank, this should be treated first with appropriate supplements for the water quality in your area, much as is the case when keeping fish.

What do axolotl eat?
In the wild, axolotl eat a wide range of foodstuffs such as fish, crustaceans, worms and other reptiles. When kept in a tank, it’s important to note that regular fish food is not a suitable substitute for their natural diet, and you will have to pay a little more attention to your axolotl’s feeding routine than you would if keeping fish. Brine shrimp, tubifex worm, bloodworm and other suitable meals can all be bought easily from most pet stores in frozen packages, which can be stored at home and administered as appropriate. Axolotl can also eat pre-packaged dried fish food pellets such as those fed to farmed salmon and other carnivorous fish. Axolotl should be fed at least once a day, with any uneaten food cleared out of the tank promptly. Keeping your axolotl well fed is important, as hungry axolotl are exponentially more likely to see each other as a snack!

Where can you buy axolotl?
Axolotl are often available in larger pet shops that stock reptiles and fish, and from specialist retailers and breeders such as you can find online. Axolotl are relatively hardy and low maintenance animals to keep, but as with any potential pet, it is vital to research them thoroughly before considering a purchase, and ensure that you have both the time and financial resources available to be able to care for them for the duration of their lives.

Thinking About Getting A Gecko For A Pet?

Geckos are a wonderfully interesting pet and come in all sizes and colors.

Geckos are small lizards found in warm climates throughout the world. There are over a thousand different species of gecko lizards, and they boast endless colors and patterns. Geckos have several unique characteristics, including the chirping vocalizations they use for social interaction. They also lack eyelids and have a transparent membrane covering the eye which they lick to clean. Because they are common to warm climates, there are several gecko species that live in human houses. These house geckos are rarely killed or exterminated because of their ability to kill and feed on insect pests.

Leopard geckos have been bred in captivity for over 30 years. Adults average 8 to 10 inches in length. Geckos are one of the longer-lived lizards with an average 10-20 year life span.

Geckos are widely available in pet stores, at reptile shows and through specialized breeders on the Internet. Make sure the breeder from whom you purchase your gecko is knowledgeable in their care and breeding. Do your research and then contact your preferred source directly to select your pet.

Things You’ll Need to Get Started
It’s always a good idea to get yourself ready BEFORE you select and bring home your new pet. Review this list of essential supplies:

• 5 gallon aquarium
• wire mesh lid for 5 gallon aquarium
• food – mealworms, crickets, etc.
• lamp
• bottle lid
• paper towels
• under-tank heater
• newspaper, pea gravel for the floor

Set the under-tank heater on a hard surface that is not flammable. Plug the heater in and place your aquarium on top of it. Spread the newspaper or pea gravel to cover the entire bottom. Some small geckos will eat sand so stick with larger particles until your gecko grows a bit.

Feeding
Proper feeding will keep your gecko healthy for many years. Young geckos need more frequent feedings for proper development. A gecko’s main diet consists of insects, especially mealworms and crickets. Proper feeding requires some preparation:

Preparing Crickets

1. “Gut load” crickets at least a day before your gecko feeds; this means supplying the insects with added nutrition that will benefit your gecko.
2. Place vegetables, grain meal (such as oatmeal or wheat germ), dried dog food, fish flakes or commercial insect gut load in the container housing the insects.
3. Add a slice of orange for water content. Remove the number of crickets needed before you feed your lizard.
4. Dust the crickets with a commercial dusting supplement containing calcium. Do this every other feeding day.
5. Use a commercial dusting kit or place the supplement in a cup with several crickets.
6. Shake the cup to cover the crickets with dust.

Feeding Geckos Crickets 

1. Feed your gecko 3 to 4 crickets at night. They are nocturnal creatures and will be most active when it is dark.
2. Allow 5 to 20 minute feeding times twice daily for geckos under 7 months, 3 to 4 times weekly for older lizards.
3. Remove uneaten crickets.

Feeding Geckos Meal and Wax Worms

1. Give your gecko live mealworms once a week. Choose the size of worm according to the size of your lizard.
2. Place 2 to 3 worms in a shallow bowl or suitable container. Make sure the sides are high enough so the worms won’t crawl out, and are large enough for the gecko to access.
3. Remove the container and clean.
4. Feed wax worms the same way, repeating steps 1 to 3.

Bearded Dragon Addicted to Unexpected Object that Makes Him Go Crazy–I Couldn’t Stop Watching!

Bearded dragons are pets that are more common than you’d think and are quite interesting little creatures.

This bearded dragon named Frankie is no different.

She happens to be obsessed with one kind of fruit and will do anything to get at it.

If you think that bearded dragons are not that fast, you are most definitely wrong. They move like lightning, and Frankie went NUTS when she saw a piece of fruit on the ground.

Little did she know that her owner was tricking her… Talk about a workout!!

To read more and see the adorable video, click here: Bearded Dragon Addicted to Unexpected Object that Makes Him Go Crazy–I Couldn’t Stop Watching!

Paleontologists Have Teamed Up with a Paleoartist to Create a Model of an Adorable Bird Lizard

Psittacosaurus to create a model which challenges everything you thought you knew about the typical dinosaur.

Research led by Dr Jakob Vinther of the University of Bristol and published in a paper in the journal Current Biology showed that a Psittacosaurus — nicknamed a "parrot-lizard" — is about the size of a turkey, has bristles on its tail and a birdlike beak. In other words, a bit weird, but also pretty cute.

It's also quite likely that the animal had feathers and a horn on each cheek, the experts say. Quite aptly, Psittacosaurus belongs to the group ceratopsians, which basically means "horned faces" in Greek. It's the same group that contains Triceratops.

The scientists say Psittacosaurus would have lived in what is now China roughly 100-123 million years ago in what may have been a forested region, where several other feathered dinosaur fossils have also been found.

The model that brought Psittacosaurus to life

Some limited information could be gathered about the colouring of Psittacosaurus from preserved melanin patterns inside the fossil, but to get a more accurate glimpse, the team asked paleoartist Bob Nicholls to create a real size 3D model of the animal.

Vinther said that the dark colouring and light belly of Psittacosaurus indicates that it probably lives in forests with dappled lighting, where it could blend into its surroundings and hide from predators.

"The fossil preserves clear countershading, which has been shown to function by counter-illuminating shadows on a body, thus making an animal appear optically flat to the eye of the beholder," he said. "We were amazed to see how well these color patterns actually worked to camouflage this little dinosaur."

Dinosaurs were probably feathery, not scaled like in Jurassic Park.

Vinther’s research with pigmentation began while he was at Yale University, where his studies revealed that structures previously believed to be dead bacteria were actually things called melanosomes; small structures that carry melanin pigments, which are found in skin and feathers.

There have been growing theories over the past few decades that dinosaurs were probably more bird-like than lizard. In 1964, Yale Professor John Ostrom discovered a fossil called Deinonychus and hypothesised that it might be warm-blooded and covered in feathers. Several years later, paleontologist Robert Bakker described the famous T-rex as "the 20,000 pound roadrunner from Hell."

Since 1983 hundreds of feathered fossils have been found around the world, but mostly in China. Each new fossil finding provides clues about previously discovered ones, and brings up new questions about whether dinosaurs were scaled at all. For example, new ideas about where feathers could have been attached on arm bones of theropods such as velociraptors.

The researchers now want to explore more types of fossils to further understand how other species might have been pigmented to be able to camouflage themselves.

                          Psittacosaurus lived about 100 million years ago.

                  The turkey-sized Psittacosaurus in the Bristol Botanic Garden.

              The Chinese fossil was preserved with skin and pigments intact.

Saudi Arabia: Two Giant Monitor Lizards Were Filmed Fiercely Battling in the Middle of a Dusty Road

Two monitor lizards were filmed fiercely battling in the middle of a dusty road.

The animals were spotted grappling with each other for nearly three minutes as huge buses, tuk tuks and motorbikes passed just metres away.

A clip shows the lizards, which are known for fighting over food or females, on their hind legs as they compete for victory.

They can be seen thrashing each other with their long tales and even pushing each other to the ground during the three-minute war.

At one point, one of the animals appears to have the upper hand and forces the other into the dust as a bus roars by.

The fight eventually comes to a pause as one manages to scamper away.

But - with the other hot on its heels - the fight continues in the sandy verge and the clip ends with lizards still clutching each other.

The footage, which is believed to be from Saudi Arabia, has been viewed nearly 5,000 times having been uploaded to YouTube on Wednesday.

Monitor lizards are known for their long necks and powerful tails and claws. 

Russian Customs Catch Woman Trying to Smuggle 108 Exotic Animals in Suitcase

Customs officials have seized what is being described as a 'zoo in a suitcase' from a woman accused of smuggling 108 exotic animals in Russia.

In the bag, carried in the hold of the aircraft, there were 55 snakes, 35 lizards, seven turtles, six lemurs, two monkeys and even a suspected leopard cub.

Two baby crocodiles died on the journey from Jakarta to Moscow and all the survivors appeared terrified when they were found after the 6,515-mile ordeal.

The menagerie came to light when customs officials at Domodedovo airport electronically scanned a 27kg bag belonging to an unnamed female passenger who had flown from Indonesia via Qatar.

Spokeswoman Larisa Ledovskikh said: 'The animals were packed in tiny cages and plastic boxes and each snake was in small bag made of cloth.'

Experts are trying to identify the 'amazingly beautiful "kitten" with bright green eyes and stripes' among the trafficked animals.

Officials in Moscow suspect it is a leopard cub, a species which is listed in the Red Book of endangered animals.

If true, the woman, held in detention pending a decision on any charges faces up to seven years in jail.

“It was a sad scene, exhausted monkeys, scared lemurs, the begging green eyes of a beautiful cat", said, Moskovsky Komsomolets.

The animal courier claimed she had bought the animals for $200 (£130) in a market in Indonesia.

She denied intending to sell the animals on the black market, claiming they were 'for future breeding'.

But trading in exotic animals is seen as lucrative business in Russia, where private zoos are seen as de rigueur for the wealthy.

After being impounded, the hungry and exhausted creatures were handed to employees of Moscow's 'Exotic Park' where they will be cared for until their future is decided.

A handler from the park held the animals for the customs pictures, which will be used as evidence in the case against the 'animal courier'.

“Experts will check the animals and calculate the price of each one. They will also establish if any of these animals are under protection of the international convention on rare species.” said an employee from the Exotic Park.